A new Nimcha for comment

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by TVV

Jim, I have a picture archive of 50+ of these swords, which I will continue to call Zanzibar nimchas to differentiate them from other Omani and East African swords that have different hilts. I am yet to see one with a blade that has European markings or even imitations thereof. In fact, the only markings I have seen are a Crescent with three stars and the so-called hourglass mark, both of which to my understanding are local or Indian. And this is true regardless of the blade type - curved or straight, single or double edged, fullers or no fullers - never a European mark.

Given the sample size, this cannot be ascribed entirely on coincidence, and is in stark contrast to kattaras and the straight cylindrical hilt swords from Oman and Omani East African possessions, which typically have multiple European (or imitation) marks and symbols.

Either the nimchas did not use European blades, but rather locally made ones or Indian imports, or they were left unmarked on purpose and/or the European marks erased.

Gunnar's reference is from Helgot, but from the sold items section so I believe it is in compliance with forum rules.

Teodor, there is nothing wrong with calling them Zanzibar nimchas, as these types over the past decades have become classified as such. Obviously you have resounding experience with these over these past decades, and I recall discussions those years ago with Louis-Pierre, agreeing that the Zanzibar term seemed most suitable.

The apparently limited examples I refer to with European blades are those with ANDREA FERARA blade; Spanish motto; and these types of European cavalry blades as in OP.

I recognize the markings you describe, some of which seem copies of German marks of 19th c. but these blades I thought were perhaps Solingen blanks. You are saying the blades on most 'nimcha' were 'locally' produced? or from India? which centers or locations in the Maghreb or India produced blades?

I think that the 'name game' has become necessary as collecting interests have grown in order to have a semantically viable glossary to use in reference and discussion. Collecting is based on classification, where in most historic accounts and narratives most references to weapons only require the type; edged, knife, sword, gun, rifle.

Actually I rather regret having brought these particulars up.